Chapter 613 - 611: Don’t Overthink It
In his memory, Lin Xi had rarely apologized to him. This time, her sudden apology made Xue Yang’s heart lurch, and he could hardly believe his ears.
"This is all my fault. The supermarket lost a lot of money because of me. I’m so sorry. If I had known this would happen, I never would have gone to Qiangsheng."
Her voice was laced with self-reproach and regret. For the first time, she had a profound realization that beauty could sometimes be a burden, unintentionally causing trouble for the people around her. From now on, I should just stay quietly behind him and be an unassuming woman, creating a peaceful haven for him.
Seeing this, Xue Yang gently reached out, caught her wrist, and pulled her lightly onto his lap. His eyes were full of comfort and affection as he said, "Silly girl, this has nothing to do with you."
Hearing this, Lin Xi’s eyes reddened. She whispered softly, "I know you only said that to Yu Fei to keep me from overthinking things. I’ll be good from now on. I won’t go anywhere except for school."
Xue Yang knew that Lin Xi had already decided she was to blame for the whole incident. Anything he said now would be useless. He opened a PowerPoint presentation on his computer and said to Lin Xi, "Take a look at this. It’s an improved version of the previous proposal, and it’s vastly different."
Lin Xi’s gaze was locked on the screen, and her eyes lit up with every detail. She asked, surprised and excited, "You made this? It’s absolutely brilliant."
She had seen the previous proposal and thought it was already perfect. But compared to this new one, the old version paled in significance. This was true perfection. How many more surprises does he have in store for me?
Seeing her reaction, Xue Yang’s lips curved into a gentle smile. He nodded and said, "That’s right. So, everything I told Si Wen earlier was true. You don’t need to take the blame. In fact, I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, we would have been the ones to breach the contract, and we would’ve had to pay for the materials no matter what."
"This way, we saved ourselves that payment. What do you want to eat tonight? My treat. Let’s go out for a nice meal."
Hearing this, a smile touched Lin Xi’s eyes. After a moment’s thought, she suggested, "The weather is so cold. How about we get some hot pot?"
Xue Yang readily agreed. His gaze, full of doting affection for Lin Xi, softened as he said, "Of course. Why don’t you go draw for a bit? I’ll finish up here as quickly as I can, and then I’ll take you out for that delicious food."
At his words, a gentle smile graced Lin Xi’s lips. She smoothly rose from his lap, the movement revealing an effortless harmony between them. She elegantly returned to the sofa, settling back into her own little world, where her familiar sense of tranquility and focus instantly returned.
From a nearby drawer, Lin Xi slowly pulled out the precious manuscript. The title on the cover, *My Precious Boy*, seemed to shine with particular brilliance under the lamp. This comic had become a source of immense pride for her. Its sales had exceeded all expectations, especially in overseas markets, where it had dominated the bestseller list for months, completely unrivaled.
Despite this glory and limelight, however, Lin Xi remained exceptionally low-key and cautious. The website had invited her to offline signing events numerous times, hoping to leverage her influence to further boost sales, but she politely declined every time. She knew that exposing her identity to the public would inevitably attract unwanted trouble and disruptions. She much preferred to maintain her anonymity and low profile, letting her work speak for itself as she used her brush to paint a world of her own.
Time slipped by, and night fell silently, draping the world in a mysterious veil.
Xue Yang finally pulled himself away from his work. He reluctantly dragged his gaze from the glowing computer screen and turned to look at Lin Xi. She had fallen fast asleep at some point, looking so peaceful it was as if the world itself had gone still for her.
In the soft, dim light, Lin Xi was curled up on the sofa. Her expression was serene, and her breathing was light and even. She looked like a sleeping princess, radiating a tranquil and beautiful aura.
Instead of waking her, Xue Yang tiptoed over, carefully picked up a nearby blanket, and draped it gently over her. Then, he sat down quietly beside her, his heart filled with contentment as he watched her sleep. He knew that no matter how chaotic the outside world became, having her here was his greatest source of peace, his ultimate haven.
As if sensing his gentle gaze, Lin Xi slowly stirred, blinking her eyes awake. They were still hazy with sleep, but when she saw Xue Yang sitting quietly beside her, a radiant smile bloomed on her face, lighting up her entire world.
"Xue Yang, are you done with work?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
Xue Yang smiled and nodded, his eyes full of adoration. "All done. Are you hungry?"
His voice was deep and gentle, enough to soothe away any fatigue.
At his question, Lin Xi instinctively touched her stomach and laughed. Her laughter was clear and bright, full of childlike joy. "Yes, I’m starving!"
Seeing this, Xue Yang picked up the soft jacket beside them and carefully draped it over her shoulders, his movements gentle and protective. He quickly put on his own jacket, and once they were ready, he naturally took her hand. The warmth from his palm seemed to chase away the winter chill in an instant.
"Let’s go, then," he said, his tone firm and reassuring, as if promising that any journey with him would be a wonderful one.
Lin Xi happily agreed, and their hands intertwined tightly, as if each of their worlds was now complete because of the other.
Hand in hand, they rode the elevator directly down to the supermarket’s underground parking garage. When they reached the Audi, Xue Yang walked around to the passenger side like a true gentleman and opened the door for her. His movements were filled with meticulous care. After she was gracefully seated, he gently shut the door, every small detail a testament to his thoughtfulness.
Xue Yang then returned to the driver’s seat. He settled in, scanned the car’s interior and surroundings to make sure everything was clear, and then turned the key. The engine responded with a low, powerful rumble. As the car pulled away, the scenery outside began to shift. Inside, Xue Yang and Lin Xi shared a moment of tranquil silence. No words were necessary; a simple glance or a smile was enough for them to read the tenderness and understanding in each other’s hearts. The scene was so warm and beautiful it felt as if the world had stood still just for them.